TOWARDS EFFECTIVE PROCUREMENT AND PURCHASING

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine current problems and obstacles in the
processes of procurement and purchasing of research consumables and equipment of The
Office of General Education and Innovative Electronic Learning, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat
University, Thailand. It used 1 set of questionnaires to survey a sample of 36 members of staff
of The Office of General Education and Innovative Electronic Learning in 2020. Statistics used
to analyze the collected data consisted of frequencies, percentages, mean values, and standard
deviations. Results showed that 62 per cent of the responders were female, 70 per cent were
between 31-40 years old, 72 per cent had graduated with bachelor’s degrees. In terms of their
positions, most of the responders were either university employees or temporary staff, both
having the same proportion at 44.5 per cent.
Responses to the questionnaires regarding the effectiveness of the procurement and
purchasing process, both for the overall system and its specific components, indicated a very
high satisfaction level. The 3 components with the highest satisfaction levels were, in order,
whether the correct equipment was procured, whether the appointment of the board was in
accordance with the procurement and purchasing policies, and whether the procurement and
purchasing were done according to plans (X=3.35, 3.33, and 3.26, respectively). Regarding
opinions on the effectiveness in distributing and record-keeping of the equipment, the level of
satisfaction, both in the overall system and in its specific components, were low. 3 of the
components having the highest satisfaction levels, in order, included whether registrations of
equipment were done in accordance with The Comptroller General’s Department’s policies,
whether records for disbursements of equipment were correct, and whether the accounting
entries were in accordance with guidelines set by the Bureau of the Budget (X=2.95, 2.93, and
2.90, respectively). The satisfaction level in the maintenance of the procured equipment was
very high. Its components included, in order of satisfaction levels, maintenance planning and
timetables, responsiveness to maintenance requests, and maintenance budgets (X= 3.19, 3.11,
and2.87, respectively). The satisfaction level in the re-selling process, both for the overall and
separate components of the process, was very high. The 3 components with the highest
satisfaction levels, in order, were documenting of re-sold equipment, whether the re-selling
process followed government regulations, and whether reports were published within a time
frame stipulated in government regulations (X=3.15,3.10, and 3.07, respectively).